The Lahaul Valley

The Lahaul valley has remained neglected, despite its exotic beauty, high mountain ranges, glacial lakes and rugged terrain. This neglect can be attributed to the inaccessibility of the terrain and the hostile climatic conditions. In this context, it is worthwhile to mention that

In this context, it is worthwhile to mention that Kulanthapitha, the traditional name of Kullu means the end of the habitable world. That is why the Lahaul & Spiti valley situated beyond Kullu remained cut off from the outer world and this reputation of the region still persists.

It is bounded on the North by Ladakh, on the east by Spiti, on the south by Kullu and Bara Bhangal of Kangra, and on the West by Chamba.

Some of the famous glaciers in the valley are Bara Shangri, Samundri, Gangstang, Sonapani and Perad. That is why; it has rightly been called as "an abode of snow” and “a valley of glaciers".

Con-figuratively, Lahaul valley comprises of the catchment of Chandra and Bhaga rivers. These rivers meet at Tandi and become Chandrabhaga or Chenab. A small part of the area also lies in the catchment of Lingti River, which is the local name of Indus.

Both Chandra and Chandra and Bhaga originate from Baralacha la or pass, which is 8 Km. long and is at an altitude of 16,047 feet. Baralacha means a pass with crossroads on the summit, which is very apt, as the roads from Zanskar, Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti meet at its top.

In the district of Lahaul & Spiti, a complete sequence of geological formations dating back from the Pre- Cambrian to the Cretaceous period, with short breaks in Upper Carboniferous and Jurassic times are found. The rocks more ancient than these periods are also found in the region.

Keylong is the district headquarter of Lahaul & Spiti, and is about 115 Km. from Manali. It is the sunniest part of the valley and is extremely picturesque. This village looks like an uncut emerald set in bronze and silver. Considering its green fields, brown mountains, and snow-capped peaks, there can't be a better companion.

The Beautiful Lahaul Valley | Source

The women of Lahaul | Source

Climate

The climate of the Lahaul valley, on the whole, is dry but healthy. The high mountains cut off the progress of rain causing monsoons. Hence there is no rainfall as such. The winters are severe and the mercury dips down to more than minus 20o Celsius.

The summers are pleasant but the shady areas tend to be cold. During summers the cold winds blow down the valley, whipping up lots of dirt. The main cash crops of the area are the seed- potatoes, kuth, manu kuth, hops, and peas.

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Asiatic Ibex Female | Source

Manali-Tandi-Chokhang-Nengar- Neelkanth trekking route remains open from June to September, The Yaks Crossing the river.

Flora and Fauna

On account of scanty rainfall, limited humidity, extremely cold climate and high elevation, the flora of Lahaul is from dry temperate to dry alpine at lower levels and of central Asiatic and Siberian character at higher levels.

The valley is strikingly verdant at lower levels during summers, but above that prevail general aridity and barrenness. Junipers, blue pine, birch, willow, spruce, Hippophae rhamnosides, poplars, Pyrus, and walnuts are found in the valley. The wild Himalayan and Alpine flowers are found in abundance during summers.

Ibex is the most commonly found animal. The snow leopard, wolf, red fox, brown beer, musk deer, etc. are also seen in the valley. Among birds snow pigeons, chokers, house sparrows, snow cock, vultures, various species of finches, dippers, swifts, wild ducks etc. are found in plenty the region. The snakes and reptiles are virtually unknown in the valley.

The Chant of Lamas

"Om mani Padme hum", is the sacred chant which means, “O thou jewel in the lotus". Symbolically the deeper meaning is, " I invoke the path of truth and experience of universality so that the jewel- like humanity of my immortal mind be unfolded within the depths of lotus- a central consciousness, and I be wafted with the ecstasy of breaking through all bonds and horizons".

Religion

Buddhism and Hinduism are the two main religions. Buddhism is said to have been introduced in Lahaul in the 8th century by Padmasambhava, the famous missionary from Udayan.

The tenets of Hinduism were preached in recent memory by an ascetic Brahm Prakash in 1940 and 1942. The impact of Hinduism can be felt in Pattan valley.

The Beautiful Lahaul Valley | Source

The Buddhist Stupas on Hilltop | Source

The People

The people of Lahaul & Spiti are a mixed race. They are the descendants of Tibetan settlers, Aryans, and semi-Aryans, who came from the West and the South. Other who came to the valley were the Saka and Khasa tribes of central Asia.

In the remote past there lived an aboriginal tribe whose features and language resembled those of the Munda tribes of Bengal and central India. The people have by and large the mongoloid features.

The joint family system is very strong, because of small land holdings and polyandry system. However, the fissures in the system can be discerned, where land holdings are large. The polyandry is on the wane, because of education, job opportunities outside Lahaul and the cultural impact of the plains.

The principal languages and dialects are Lahauli, Pangwal and several other dialects that bear strong affinity with the language of Munda tribes

BUDDHIST CHHAM DANCE | Source

The Land of Lamas

Lahaul is also referred to as the land of Lamas. These lamas live in Gompas or monasteries, which number more than a score in the valley. Some of the important ones are Guru Ghantal, Kardang, Shashur and Tayal.

These monasteries have a rich collection of Thanka paintings, antiques including bronzes, weapons, idols dresses, and other religious articles and artifacts.

Architecturally, these monasteries are not very significant. They have been built in the indigenous timber bonded stones in which there are alternate layers of dressed stones and timber beans.

This style has largely been adopted in Lahaul, perhaps by the fact that the region lies in an alpine seismic belt of Himalayas, and these structures are said to be earthquake proof.

Chham-The-Devil Dance

In the monasteries of Shashur, Gemur, and Gondhla, a sort of miracle play like that of the pre-Shakespearean era, known as the Devil Dance is performed. locally this dance is called Chham.

This dance form originated in the 10th century when the lamas performed it to kill a Tibetan king Lang Darma, who was a sworn enemy of Buddhism.

Since then this dance is enacted on certain auspicious days in the months of June and July, to commemorate the memory of the victory of Buddhism over the ruthless king.

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The Falling of Syars from the Sky on Snowcovered Udaipur | Source

Mrikula mata temple at udaipur | Source

Temples at Udaipur

The Hindu temples of Mrikula Devi and Triloknath at Udaipur are located at beautiful sites and are not to be missed.

The former is known for its exquisite wood carvings and the latter for its classical style of Gupta period of a curvilinear tower or Shikhara and Kalasha.

The marble head of Avalokiteshvara is also an excellent piece of Sculpture.

The scenic landscape embellished with snowy mountains in the valley | Source

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Trekking in Lahaul | Source

Way to Keylong at Rohtang pass | Source

Rohtang pass in Summer | Source

The Herd in Lahaul | Source

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Trekking in Keylong

Keylong has sufficient accommodation for the tourists and the trekkers, like tourist bungalows, hotels, circuit house and rest houses together with a small market with provision stores. it is an ideal base camp for all the treks.

It is connected with Udaipur and Darcha by regular bus services. These two places are other starting points for various treks. Since the trekking routes connect Lahaul with other districts, they can be classified in the following categories

1. Treks between Kullu and Lahaul

Some major routes are

Manali- Keylong trek over Rohtang pass.

Manikaran- Keylong trek over Hamta Jot or peak.

Manikaran- Keylong trek over Sara- Umga pass.

2. Treks between Chamba and Lahaul

The treks on this route are,

Keylong Bharmour trek over Kugti pass.

Keylong- Killar trek via Udaipur.

Keylong- Bharmour- Chamba trek over Asha Gulli pass.

Keylong Chamba trek over Kalichho pass.

Keylong- Manimahesh trek etc.

3. Treks between Lahaul and J&K

The main trekking routes on this trek are,

Keylong- Padum trek.

Darcha- Padum trek over Bara Lacha La.

Myar- Zanskar trek.

Keylong- Leh trek via Upshi.

The best trekking period is between July and October. Proper acclimatization and physical fitness are missed because of high altitude and rarefied atmosphere. Alcoholic drinks should be avoided as much as possible. Some analgesics, antihistamine, and water purifying pills should be carried along as a headache and high altitude sickness is common. Besides the purity of water is not certain.

Trekkers must take care to acclimatize and go on short hikes before starting the actual one.

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